I am new this year to burning coal, switched from wood pellet stove. This year I am going to get bagged rice coal. I am going to build a bin outside next summer. I am curious about the coal being/getting wet and freezing. I see/hear about people using augers, no good if it gets frozen, the coal is from blaschak, not sure if that makes a difference, and is treated to keep dust down. Does it break up easy? Thanks

We were new to coal last year. Built a bin outside, kinda like a large shed with a metal roof and removable boards in the front. Have a tarp covering the top part of the opening in front on a rope system to pull it back while filling buckets. The wife even put clear c-9 Christmas lights around the top inside so I can see! Never had a problem with the coal freezing, I guess if there was any water in it when we got it, it all drained out the bottom of the bin. Bottom of the bin is recycled 5/4 deck boards with a little room in between to let water drain out. Hope that helps and check out all the pictures of the coal bins here on the forum.

If you use bagged Blaschak this year it can freeze if left in the bag. I store in a heated garage at work, and bring home a bag or two every nite. On the weekends those bags that have been in my van longer than 4or 5 hours will freeze. They really water it down, sometimes I can lay the bags on thier side and get almost a quart of water out of it. It's not that big a deal, I have about 20" of tile in front of the stove I just set the frozen bag in front of the stove for about 5 min. it thaws fast. On another thought if a gallon of water weighs 8 pounds, a quart should weigh 2 pounds. 50 bags of coal in a ton X 2 pounds = 100 pounds of water. I guess better wet than dusty though.

I use bagged Kimmel's that's usually watered down. Some of them freeze being outside but I bring them in and dump them in a bin full of coal next to the stove. By the time it makes it into the stove it's bone dry.

Had 20 tons outside under a tarp,was pretty wet,if it freezes smack it with the flat of a shovel and it breaks right up.Shovel mine into old kitty litter steel handled buckets with covers,keep a weeks supply inside on the porch,no freezing,still damp to wet,dries after poured into the hopper,no dust either.